Michele Hadley with the group Ban the Bag Kamloops is lobbying city council to ban single-use plastics by 2020. She made a presentation to council, Tuesday, March 27, 2019.

(SHELBY THEVENOT / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - Kamloops city council will discuss a ban on single-use plastics after hearing from a group advocating for such a ban at its meeting yesterday.

Michele Hadley with the group Ban the Bag Kamloops presented to city council yesterday, March 26, about the damages single-use plastics cause to the environment.

"As a nurse I find micro plastics are present in every organ of the body," she told council. Her presentation also included graphic images of dead birds and whales with carcasses filled with plastic.

Hadley reminded council of the Sustainable Kamloops Plan in which the city aimed to reduce landfill waste to 0.3 tonnes per capita by 2020.  However, that number had climbed to 0.693 tonnes per capita according to the City's 2017 annual report.

READ MORE: How this Kamloops couple is going zero waste

“We’re over two times where we should be. We’re nowhere near," she said.

Hadley asked council to start getting feedback from the business community.

"Do an extensive consultation for both business and stakeholders and phase out single-use plastic bags by early 2020," Hadley said. "The reason I say that is it gives them time to get a feel for where businesses (are) and where everyone else in their community is."

She also proposed that while plastic bags are being phased out businesses should charge $0.15 per plastic bag used at the check out, then bring that up to $0.25 once the bylaw officially kicks in. Revenue from the bags would then go back to the business. Should any retailer choose to offer a single-use bag option, Hadley suggested it should be paper and made with at least 40 per cent recycled content.

Coun. Dale Bass tabled a motion calling for city administration to draft a bylaw banning single-use plastic bags, straws and cutlery. The motion will go before council for debate on April 2, 2019.

"It’s happening around the country. It’s happening around the world. It’s possible to do it," Bass said.

If the motion is approved by council a bylaw could be drafted by May 28, 2019.

Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian listens as Michele Hadley with the group Ban the Bag Kamloops (left) presents information on the harm single-use plastics cause to the environment on Tuesday, March 26, 2019.

(SHELBY THEVENOT / iNFOnews.ca)

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